September 21, 2017

If the Local Democracy Bill's been dropped as rumoured, could the Scottish Government please ditch the idea of working around oversized councils, bite the bullet and devise a new system with genuinely local councils AND community control? Folk all over Scotland are grouping together to improve their communities through development trusts - inspired by the community land buyouts of the 90s. But there isn't enough cash to buy out every community, the process can be stressful without support, and the result is very piecemeal. Meanwhile overlarge councils are still micromanaging local lives. We dont need more projects and workarounds -- we urgently need system change.

And the energy and ingenuity demonstrated by communities at the recent Development Trust Conference (DTAS) shows people are ready for more local power.

So this is a plea for John Swinney to bite the bullet and try to get the best of both worlds – substantial community control overseen by a new tier of powerful town and island-sized councils. Maybe the existing councils could become the regional bodies they really are, but stripped of their bureaucracy. The important thing for Scotland is to bring democracy and control back to the people who demonstrate capacity and commitment to their communities every waking day.

The picture shows a mini-brewery built together in 3 days by the thirsty folk of Eigg -- of course it helps that they've decided to give plots of land free to young folk who only pay the cost of land if they sell the house they build on the open market. Genius stuff - that could be happening all over Scotland.

September 10, 2017

Does Nordic landscape art depict empty, barren, wastelands? Surprisingly not. Arctic and sub-arctic Scandianavia contain tough environments but are not people-free or unloved. There's the bohemian Icelandic artist who worked in the open air and gave his work to the folk he stayed with, the mining town that's moving 4 kms to avoid falling into the world's biggest iron mine, the Norwegian artist whose work sits in the White House, the Danish workers' huts that sit beside Europe's most valuable real estate and the female fishermen of the Finnish Aland Islands. Maybe Scots should know more about the feisty, confident and tenacious artists and people who populate the "frozen north"?

Ill be talking about this Nordic House collection of art and photos at the exhibition launch in the East Kilbride Arts Centre, 51-53 Old Coach Rd, East Kilbride, Glasgow G74 4DU on Thursday 5 Oct 6pm. It's a free gig so do come along if you can. But if you miss the launch - the exhibition is on till 27th October.

August 14, 2017

So will Alex Salmond be left with egg on his face in 2021 - after predicting independence within 4 years? Well, that’s the measure of the man. Real leadership is the ability to make a judgment call when the result isn’t in the bag. When there’s a foregone conclusion, very little courage is needed to steer a path. But since little is certain these days, decision makers can seem paralysed, immersing themselves in a world of meetings, consultations and policy advisers to better divine what lies ahead. Yet one thing is clear. What approaches is an English-shaped Brexit not supported by the outlook of the Scottish Parliament, the shape of our civic institutions, our voting record over decades and our clearly stated preference for remaining part of the EU. Read the rest of today's Scotsman column here. http://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/lesley-riddoch-has-alex-salmond-got-it-right-this-time-1-4531095

May 28, 2017

Great trip to Orkney for the Folk Festival. It has such a great reputation that folk are booking up accommodation early, discovering they haven't got tickets and still coming to catch the free music in venues like the Stromness Hotel -- same way ticketless footie fans still travel for the match atmosphere. I wonder if the Folk Fest can expand to bigger venues with more tickets and maybe with a mobile hotel in the form of a ferry or cruise ship?

Anyway, it was fab cycling weather on Rousay on Friday. That night I saw a fascinating blend of Orkney/Norwegian fiddle music with Gemma McGregor explaining why Orcadian music always sounds upbeat (Gemma has found only one trad song in a minor key) and a gob-smacking display of Norwegian physical fitness by Hallgrim Hansegard - back flipping and Cossack dancing whilst keeping the beat in an elegant dance with his female partner. Haunting Hardanger fiddle music supplied by Ragnhild Hemsing.

The dynamic, deadpan duo of Brian and Douglas -- Saltfishforty -- were in crackin form launching their new album Bere (not bear or bare but bere the trad Arcadian barley) Saturday lunchtime, though I did have to leave early to get to my own McSmorgasbord book gig in the lovely new Stromness library. Thanks all those who abandoned the sun and the music for two hours of serious political talk. Later it was Irish night with the "Lonesome Touch" combo Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill in mesmerising form.

Today I've been writing tomorrow's Scotsman column in the newly reopened Eviedale Cafe in Evie -- column is about the problems facing renewable energy and island communities like Orkney and the strange absence of this reserved issue from the Westminster election campaign.

Then it's the closing concert tonight - too soon.

Then midnight boat north to Shetland for some McSmorgasbord events - what Scotland can learn from the Nordics.

The Scottish Independence Convention (SIC) condemns Theresa May’s snap election as a cynical power grab that will overshadow the council elections and overturn arrangements for a fixed term parliament whilst ignoring growing opposition to a hard Brexit in Scotland and Northern Ireland -- two nations that voted to remain inside the EU in last year’s referendum. If the Prime Minister gets a mandate from English voters on June 8th, she can proceed as she likes with Brexit for the whole UK and Scotland can wave goodbye to any last chance for a differentiated Brexit deal. The only power Scots have in this situation is to ensure all 59 Scottish MPs are returned with an explicit mandate to hold a second independence referendum once the shape of the Brexit deal is known and understood.

SIC Convener Elaine C Smith said; “Once again Scots are being dragged into a Westminster dog-fight that is not of our making and doesn’t fit Scottish political priorities. But members of the SIC are ready to mobilise all networks and members to show Westminster that Scots insist on the right to consider independence again in light of the vast constitutional change set in train by Brexit and the explicit commitments we hope the SNP and Greens will make in their manifestos. As Scotland’s First Minister has repeatedly said a second referendum vote should not happen now but once the shape of the Brexit deal is clear.”

Vice Convener and journalist Lesley Riddoch said; “For every Scot who wants to stay in Europe and have the option of a second independence referendum, this snap election must mean the return of an independence supporting MP in every Scottish seat. Scots must also have an input into the Brexit debate because Theresa May's approval ratings are like a mirror image – positive and negative on either side of the border. We call on broadcast media to reflect that political reality in the next weeks of the election campaign. Victory for the Conservatives means the prospect of Tory control at Westminster for the next decade or even the next 20 years as Theresa May cashes in on Labour’s weakness. That will change the perspective of many Scots and the SIC believes we must have the same chance to reassess our political priorities that Theresa May has just grabbed for herself.”

SIC member and Common Weal Director Robin McAlpine said; "Now is not the time for Scotland but now is always the time for an opportunistic Tory government. Voters will note that it's one rule for Westminster and another for Holyrood -- again."

Notes to Editors

The Scottish Independence Convention (SIC) is an umbrella body representing all the groups (party and non-party) which support the cause of Scottish independence. Member groups include the SNP, Greens, Common Weal, Women for Independence, Scottish CND, Pensioners for Independence and Yes2. The co convenors are Elaine C Smith and Pat Kane, Vice-Convenors are Lesley Riddoch and Richard Walker.

Calling all independence supporters in Dundee, Angus and Fife. Its really important you turn up for the Saturday 22nd event which just happens to be the first rally for independence in the context of the General Election campaign just called by Theresa May. The important time to be there is 12.15-1.15 when TV cameras may well be present. A small turnout will be disappointing -- so even if you are canvassing please make a gap at 12.15 and turn up in numbers at City Square Dundee. Make posters to get others to come. Independence rally; Scots demand the right to call indyref2/ scotref. Just go for it East coasters